Hi Larry, As I said, I have not been researching Independence Co. for very long, but one of the reasons I am is your Milly/Millie Foster (b. MS) and the Harrison Foster (b. AR) found in the household of John and Martha Foster on the 1850 census. If you look at the 1850 Searcy Co. census you'll also find a Milly and Harrison Foster in the household of Henry Forrester (b. VA). The young boy named Joseph is my great-great-grandfather. The name changes to Foster on the 1860 Madison Co. census. I could perhaps accept two Milly Fosters as a coincidence, but two Harrisons? That is such an unusual given name that I feel it's almost a certainty that these Fosters are all related. But how? That's the stumper. They all seem to be born in different states. And you'll notice that the Harrison Foster in Searcy was born right around the time that the Harrison Foster who married Elizabeth Speed died. Was he named in his honor? On the 1870, 1880 and 1910 censuses my ancestor Joseph Foster lists his birthplace as Mississippi. On other censuses it's Arkansas. Despite years of looking, I have never been able to figure out the MS connection. Then I come across your Millie born in MS. It makes me wonder. I've checked the Familysearch library and I see that Independence Co. still has all of its old records intact. That's truly amzing. Most of the counties my ancestors lived in had courthouse fires after the Civil War. Have you ever checked the old probate, court and land records for possible clues? Bob ----- Original Message ----- > My great-grandfather, John Sherley was married to Mahala Hutson > (her > father was Hiram Hutson and Mother was Millie Foster) we also > find a > number of deaths in 1859 in/around Oil Trough, Independence Co. > John > Sherley died in 1859, wife married a Richard Avery in 1859 who > died > shortly thereafter. Also can not find Mahala after 1860 so > think she also > died, and possibly one of the daughters..........but, we do not > have any > specific info. on an epidemic or anything but we are searching > for the > same info..... >